Audiovisual Industry in Croatia

Little Black Book 2018

The Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) is the Government-backed national agency responsible for supporting film production in Croatia. As a main audiovisual agency in Croatia, we have the overall responsibility for the growth of the domestic industry.

HAVC was founded in 2008 as a result of the Law on Audiovisual Activities (Official Gazette NN 76/07, available in Croatian) unanimously passed by the Croatian Parliament in 2007. It is funded by the grant-in-aid from the Government, and through contributions of all those exploiting audiovisual works, such as: broadcasters, digital, cable and satellite operators, internet providers, telecoms, etc.

Our remit ranges from supporting development, production, distribution, exhibition, marketing and promotion, to professional training and supporting national film archive through the system of public subsidies. HAVC also promotes Croatian films and co-productions at all major festivals and markets and administers Croatian incentive scheme for film and TV production, aimed at encouraging inward investment.

HAVC is currently operating with the annual programme budget of approximately 8.7 million €, which includes funding for development and production support, as well as funding for other film related activities. Additional public support bodies in the country are City Offices for Culture in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split.

DEVELOPMENT

Development Fund supports both script and project development for feature-length films: fiction, documentaries and animation intended for theatrical release. There is also a Television Development Fund supporting development of quality television series, serials and single projects.

PRODUCTION

FEATURE FILMS

The Croatian Audiovisual Centre supports the production of Croatian feature films and international feature film co-productions. HAVC currently operates two feature film support schemes: Feature Film Support Scheme and First Feature Film Support Scheme.

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

HAVC supports production of high-quality and distinctive documentary filmmaking, both feature length and shorts, as well as documentary co-productions.

SHORT FILMS

Short films can help new filmmakers break into the mainstream. HAVC currently operates three separate short film support schemes: for fiction,animation and experimental shorts.

ANIMATED FILMS

Animation has a long and venerable tradition in Croatia, dating back to the mid 1950s and culminating in the work of the world-renowned Zagreb School of Animation in the 1960s and 1970s. After years of relative stagnation, a new generation of Croatian animation talent has been reaping awards at home and abroad. For the first time in many years, Croatia has had a feature-length animation film in cinemas in 2010 and another one currently in production.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXHIBITION

Two major film distributors: Blitz Film & Video and its sister company Duplicato dominate Croatian theatrical distribution marked with a combined share of around 70%, followed by 2iFILM at 16% and several other film distributors with less than 10% share. The US and UK titles comprise a large majority of first release titles in Croatian cinemas, with dominant market share. The overall cinema admissions in Croatia have been at almost the same level since 2012, peaking at 4 million, with admissions share for national films showing a decrease for two years in a row after a record year of 2013 at 11%.

CO-PRODUCTIONS

HAVC supports international feature film co-productions with minority Croatian participation: feature-length fiction, documentaries and animation, as well as fiction, animation and experimental shorts.

The call for applications for this scheme is an open call with decisions taken on a quarterly basis.

FILM PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

This is a rebate scheme for film and television productions made in Croatia, available as of 2012. The rebate applies to Feature Films, Documentaries, Short Films, Television Drama and Animation and does not apply to Commercials, Reality, Game Shows and Soaps.

Projects can derive a benefit of 20% of their qualifying expenditure, which is based on the cost of Croatian cast and crew working in Croatia, as well as goods and services purchased in Croatia.

In the past four years, a total of 27 productions benefited from the Programme, originating from countries as varied as the US, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and India.

CREATIVE EUROPE DESK CROATIA – MEDIA

Croatian Creative Europe Desk - MEDIA Office is a promotion and information office for the European Commission’s Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA sub-programme, which offers a wide variety of funding for film and television, from training, through development and distribution to markets, events and festivals.

CED - MEDIA Office is hosted by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. It offers advice and answers enquiries from Croatian film and TV professionals, explaining various funding strands and eligibility criteria.